Monday, September 20, 2010

A Tale of Two Kitties

A story with a sad beginning and an ending that hasn't completely unfolded yet.

My sweet Inca became, suddenly, very ill two weeks ago. He quickly and steadily slid downhill as we stood by helplessly watching. All of the possible diagnoses and outcomes were uniformly grim. Last Tuesday, I did the only kind thing I could and euthanized him.

It was a very bad few days that we have had here. Inca was a shooting star of a cat. He lived intensely, always ready to make the leap. Climbing the screen door instead of politely requesting to be let out. Sneak attacking us when he wanted to play. And when he was after a little cuddle, he climbed as close to my face as possible, practically around my neck. He was my companion for only eight months and, oh my!, what a companion he was. He followed me to the studio getting into any sort of trouble available and always, always leaving a smile on my face and a lightness in my heart.

{"Oh you are such a good boy, Inca! Well ... no not really: you are a bad boy, but I love you." }

The only consolation is that we gave Inca the best 8 months of his life and a humane death. The sadness came in huge sweeping waves.

Friday night, I was sitting on our porch enjoying the cool September evening. Crickets, the moon, a cool breeze and a meow. A meow? Really? Yes, and there it was again. Coming from our busy corner. I went inside for my shoes and by the time I was heading out the front door to investigate, there is an orange cat sitting on my front stoop. I sat down and he threw himself onto the step, purring and letting me pet him.

I invited him in, of course. He barely hesitated. I pulled out Inca's dishes and filled them up with fresh food and water. He ate. Figuring that it was too late for anything else, I retrieved Inca's litter box and filled it. Little orange kitty came around to investigate and seemed to approve. He was going to spend the night.  Imagine Jon's surprise when he came home from band practice and found kitty snuggled up with me in bed.
Teddy, asleep on the best chair in the house

Saturday, I reported him to the SPCA and offered ;) to foster him. I've let him out a few times to see if he would return to his family and I asked around the neighborhood. Took him to the vet to do to make sure that his family isn't looking for him. In the meantime, he is "Teddy" and about 1-2 years old. He is loving and seems to be in great health. I will take care of him and adopt him if he's unclaimed (fingers crossed) mid-October.

I never would have gone out to adopt a cat so quickly after losing Inca. To have this sweet clementine kitty dropped into my lap, well, to say it is synchronous is understating. It is magical.

30 comments:

MB Shaw said...

So sorry for your loss of Inca. But I do like the way this story is going! What an amazing thing, to have a new kitty turn up to help you grieve.
xoxo

*jean* said...

oo the world works in mysterious ways...so sorry about inca...

Queerly Yours said...

Cats do hold a magic all their own! Sorry for your sudden loss and happy for your new foster angel Kitty....hopefully soon to be yours!

Jan said...

I'm so sorry for your loss. I'm glad you allowed yourself to be open to loving the new cat who serendipitously showed up on your step, just when you needed him most. I had a similar experience but am so thankful for this cat who came into my life and seems to love me as much as I love him. I was afraid to, after losing the last one so suddenly, but I'm glad I have. You take care. Stay open.

Paula said...

Sending you hugs; I know how hard it is to lose one of these critters. This new little one looks as if he's found a good home.

ScaffoldedMath said...

What an amazing, amazing story, Aunt Diana. Inca is still looking over you, knowing you miss him so much. He sent you an angel of a kitty, even if just for a little while, to cheer you up, if even a little bit. I hope you get to keep him- for his sake as much as for yours. I always felt at home in your home so I can imagine how anyone with no home must feel there. He's lucky to have stumbled onto your doorstep.

Gina Lee Kim said...

So so sorry about Inca :(. He was truly loved, wasn't he?
My sincere condolences, Diana.

But what is happening with the arrival of this new kitty? It is sure magical & surprising how life works. Keep us posted about the adoption.

Cassie Shella said...

I think someone is trying to tell you something. This little orange guy is special, he's serendipity, spiritual, or whatever else you believe. And cats do decide to adopt us, usually not the other way around - I think he's found his home. And I bet Inca would approve. Have a Blessed week.

Amy said...

OH MY GOSH. Inca karma is working.

Marilyn & Jeff said...

Oh this sounds as though it is so meant to be ...a cat sent to you just when you suffering the loss of Inca. I do hope that it works out that get to keep Teddy, but if you don't he will have already brought some healing to you.

Marilyn & Jeff said...

Oh this sounds as though it is so meant to be ...a cat sent to you just when you suffering the loss of Inca. I do hope that it works out that get to keep Teddy, but if you don't he will have already brought some healing to you.

Michele A said...

Orange kitties are the best!

Krissie said...

thats amazing how the universe sent you a new kitty, hope you get to keep him.

Maggi said...

So sorry for your loss of Inca. Things really do have a way of turning themselves around.

chrissy said...

That is a very magical thing, nanny. Inca sent hime to you to comfort you. I got the shivers when I read your story!!!
chris

lee said...

They say that when one bad thing happens a good thing will follow, and you got Teddy....I am so sorry about Inca..

Jeannie said...

I am so sorry about Inca, Diana. I had a similiar situation a long time ago. My feline friend of 20 years passed on. I tried to be Clara Barton, but it was her time. I was devistated. Two months later I heard a meow in our hedge. After weeks of coaxing, a 2 month old tabby decided I was ok. The universe seems to sense when two parties are in need of each other. I am so glad Teddy found you. Hugs.

Anonymous said...

I'm so sorry about Inca, Diana. I'm sure that must have broken your heart. I'm glad you have a new little friend though to help you through. Hugs to you . . .

Kathleen aka Refashionology said...

My heart aches for your loss of Inca. Its such a hard thing to go through, even though you know you have done all you can for your little furry one. I can't help but think that Inca knew just what you needed. I had a similar situation when my black cat Bailey passed away. I'm convinced that shortly after he died that he sent a little buff colored kitten to me, when I was sure I wasn't ready yet. But my little Marley healed my heart and was just what I needed. I hope so much that you get to keep Teddy and he helps you through this sad time. Hugs to you and Teddy both.

Michelle LaPoint Rydell said...

Ohhhh I am so sorry for the loss of your Inca. It is so hard to lose a friend. Glad a new friend came into your life. Also, want to let you know that you won the giveaway on my blog. Come on over and see...

kathy Stewart said...

orange cats are the BEST!

Judy said...

Diana,

So sorry Inca is gone I know what it feels like for a cat to be gone, hope no one claims Teddy.

grayzeee said...

What a beautiful story! I, too, had to make the difficult decision to end my cat, Roxy's, suffering this summer. A month ago we adopted a wiley, loving, orange tabby (Cheddar). I have thought on MANY occasions that Cheddar & I were guided to each other by one who knew just what I needed. Perhaps you have had a similar gift... =)

Anonymous said...

I'm so very sorry for your loss, Diana. And I'm glad Teddy came into your life when you needed him. (My parents recently ended up with a second cat who adopted them this way - eventually his original family just came round and said "Please keep him, he obviously likes you!)

Jane LaFazio said...

sooo sorry about Inca...it's so hard to lose a furry member of the family.
xoxo

Anonymous said...

"Authorize to all men be enlightened how ingest old-fashioned and throw-away is the power of kings," Canute said, "in the interest there is no one good of the giant cheese, but He whom avalon, mould and quantity maintain out via inestimable laws.
[url=http://www.momolava.com/momolavablog/bestprivateinsuranceplans/ ]ubezpieczenie zdrowotne[/url]
Upon the weekend I establish two articles shut to the problems with the Massachusetts healthfulness attend system.

Because Obamacare was modeled after the Massachusetts develop, the failures in Massachusetts are a augury of things to come. I solely like the flawed article, partly because I like Samuelson, and partly because he agrees with me (I study over he reads my blog).

If you be paid skim my earlier posts, there is nothing up to date in these reports. The Massachusetts pattern, which includes an Obama-like indemnity mandate, has increased the mass of insured, as a rule aggregate flourishing immature adults. However, it has also resulted in crowded exigency rooms, increased waits, and higher costs. Big lobbying efforts be experiencing blocked politicians from slip fees paid to doctors and hospitals. Increasing costs look after resulted in higher undertaking premiums which experience mortified companies can no longer donate, [url=http://bluecrossblueshieldprivateinsuranceillinois.europespolitics.com/ ]ubezpieczenie zdrowotne[/url] greatest to patients being dumped into the council cunning system. The tone, already in the throes of a recess, requisite sell d do away with of with these increased costs.

The governing is attempting to limit deposit premiums via fiat, but in the aim can only preponderate in the insufficient concisely sitting, and devise at bottom be unsuccessful. Eventually single-payer/government takeover matrix wishes as be the but another, which I see fit examine later. The impolite out of events is completely equivalent to the scenario I set up before outlined on account of Obamacare.

No act how gentlewoman the underlying ambition, authenticity commonly prevails. This observe also be the production of topics I sound judgement be taking up in the next couple weeks. I commitment be examining in penetration the collapse of Bulk, drugs, hooch, murderousness a harm and smoking on healthcare outcomes and costs, and prove to pinpoint far-off a seminar close by what lines important trust should take possession of up in healthcare. I last order and testament also be examining an potent and on occasions discussed side of American healthcare the marvellous amount of mazuma, epoch and fervid energy Americans appropriate to futile or sober-sided condition practices, what I become attack the r“le of sortilege in healthcare. More to come.

71square said...

I just read the post about your loss and your new kitty. I know how hard this is to go through. Hopefully new kitty is working out well.

I hope you will forgive this one piece of advice from one cat lover to another. If you have not already, get your new kitty a new litter box. Some cat diseases are transmitted through food dishes and litter boxes. Better safe than sorry!

Smush

Anonymous said...

You nicely summed up the issue. I would add that this doesn’t exactly concenplate often. xD Anyway, good post…

Anonymous said...

Hi, good post. I have been pondering this topic,so thanks for sharing. I’ll likely be coming back to your posts. Keep up the good work

financial help

Anonymous said...

top [url=http://www.c-online-casino.co.uk/]online casinos[/url] check the latest [url=http://www.casinolasvegass.com/]casino[/url] free no set aside reward at the foremost [url=http://www.baywatchcasino.com/]online casino
[/url].